A well-known South Korean soccer player who was held in China for nearly a year over accusations of bribery has been released and returned home, as confirmed by Seoul’s Foreign Ministry on Monday.
Son Jun-ho, a former member of the South Korean national team who had been playing professionally in China, was detained by Chinese authorities at Shanghai airport in May on suspicion of accepting bribes.
While the Foreign Ministry confirmed Son’s return to South Korea, they did not provide specific details regarding his return date or whether the allegations against him were proven.
According to South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper, Son returned on Monday afternoon, as reported by anonymous sources.
Son previously played for Shandong Taishan and was part of the team that won the 2021 Chinese championship. Reports from the South China Morning Post last year suggested the bribery claims involved possible match-fixing related to the team’s coach, Hao Wei.
The South Korean ministry stated that they had been in communication with Chinese authorities through various channels to ensure a prompt and fair process for Son. They also mentioned providing assistance to Son and maintaining close contact with his family in South Korea.
Son, aged 31, had played for South Korea’s Pohang Steelers and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors for seven seasons before joining Shandong Taishan in 2021 on a four-year contract. He has represented South Korea in 18 matches, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Chinese soccer has long grappled with a reputation for corruption, and efforts have been made to address this issue over the years.
